So darling Shipwreck Dandy invited me last week to answer four questions in this thing that is called a "blog hop". They are questions regarding an artist's work and ways of working, so thank you for the opportunity! It's a good exercise for myself as well, as I put in words what I do.
Here's some of her work:
What Am I Currently
Working On?
I’ve currently engaged so many media I’ve lost count, but I
will start with the newest medium: polymer clay.
I’ve started experimenting with polymer clay starting last
month and I’m currently working on some beads.
The goal is to produce authentically rustic beads that are nature
oriented. I’ve got to admit: Poly Clay
is HARD!!! I can’t believe all these artists that make beads work so hard and
charge so little!
Anyways, here’s some in progress, mostly attempts...
I’m also working on reorganizing my supplies to post on my
supply shop. It’s an ongoing process but
I’m really behind, I really have quite a stash, and it doesn’t help that I get
sentimentally attached! I’m a bit of a
glass fanatic, especially vintage beads and I don’t often use them either!
What’s wrong with this picture?! But
they are so pwetty….
Here's a peak...just a peak of my vintage stash...MINE!
I suppose jewelry-wise, I’m in the same boat:
I’m working on something rustic and organic like this at the moment...(in progress with others)
How does my work
differ from others of its genre?
This is kind of a hard question to answer, so I’m going to
answer it bluntly: it doesn’t. Why would I say such a thing? Well, simply put as my sculpture professor
said in college “nothing is truly original, every art piece out there is based
on previous works”. I feel that is very
much true: whether you have looked at someone’s jewelry, painting, sculpture,
vase or whatnot chances are you have been somewhat been influenced by it. So in a sense I think we assimilate previous
work in our mental repertoire and somehow have that in the back of our mind at
all times. It’s not necessarily a
question of straight up “copying “ but it is just that it’s inevitable: I’m
looking daily at other people’s work I like and thinking “uh, I wanna try
that!”. I think it’s ok as long as you
incorporate ideas into your own style and meaning. I feel a style it’s something that just
develops on its own. So does my work
differ from others of its genre? Not particularly. Do I have a style of my own? Yes, but it’s
hard to pinpoint and describe, because it is a collection of interests,
influence and well…life experiences!
Why do I create what I do?
Creating makes me happy and it frees my mind. It’s a
necessity, a way of living. Every time
I’m in front of a canvas or soldering a link, I feel closer to God, as He is
the ultimate creator. I also find it
very therapeutic and meditative. I think
human beings are inherently creators and denying that truth within us makes us
feel depressed. I believe if everyone took the time to create whether it’s a
piece of Art, a garden, a dish, the whole world would be a better place…as
cliché as it sounds it is indeed something I believe to be absolutely true…
How does my creative process work?
Oh gosh! How doesn’t it work? If I could summarize it in one
word, it would be “through experimentation”…that was 2 words, wasn’t it?
You get the picture… ¾ of the time I change my work halfway
or when I’m close to finishing. Although
this may be a frustrating process to most, it’s essential in my work. Mistakes are left or corrected depending on
my personal aesthetics (don’t ask) and they play a main role in the outcome of
my work. This extends to all media:
whether it is spillage in a painting or a miscast in a sculpture or a crooked
link in a necklace, I feel all of it is not accidental, it is not to be hated,
but embraced.
My favorite professor in college, my Painting professor,
made sure I understood this very early in my artistic career: one of the first assignments she gave us was
a drawing assignment where we were forced to draw a still life she set up in our
classroom one day, only to come an change it the next with the same objects but
different positions. She would make us
erase everything that changed positions (“knock it back” she would say) and
re-draw it. The outcome would be this
quite messy drawing that had “ghosts” of chair legs, boxes, dolls and whatnot…
Imagine all that, I just wanted to cry, because it wasn’t
“perfect” to my eyes. In time I learned
to appreciate the beauty of these “ghosts” and “mistakes” as I realized they
made the composition intriguing and organic.
I’ve been in love with “accidents” ever since. Handmade is human,
handmade is imperfect, handmade is organic, handmade is life itself…
OH YEAH! I also scribble and doodle a lot for inspiration...
Anyways, I hope you’ve enjoyed this little rant and I hope
that it helps you understand my ways a little better when it comes to the
creative process. I especially hope I didn’t get too serious either ^_^; cause
I’m quite the contrary…
And the next participants of the blog hop are...*drumroll*
And the next participants of the blog hop are...*drumroll*
-Angela Sasser from Angelic Shades and Angelic Artisan (painter, fantasy illustrator, mask and jewelry artisan)
-Robyn Parrish from The French Circus (vintage assemblage jewelry artisan and designer)
Please don't miss out on what these wonderful artists have to share on July 28th 2014! Make sure you mark their blog on your list!
See you soon!
Great post! Love your sketches. I love looking at interesting sketchbooks. The page on the left--it's got a wonderful Voynich Manuscript vibe going on. The sacred shapes mixed with the spirals, the 'tube' form of the horn with things going in it, and that little ram (I swear I think there is a page with a ram almost just like that. I'll see if I can find it.) and the writing even looks similar (especially before you enlarge the picture; can't really make out the words; it looks like asemic type writing. love it.) and even the colors. It's really cool. I hope you take it as a compliment--Voynich Manu. is one of my favorite all-time illustrated books.
ReplyDeleteDistinguishing dynamics of your jewelry that I note: Lots of religio-spirito-icono type components, more overall balance and symmetry than seen with most assemblage jewelry (and even with your asymmetry, there seems to be an overall more considerate making...) and a very sophisticated color palette. I get a sense that color is one of your main 'ethics' & intuitive guides, if that makes sense. Your photography is outstanding, too. And don't even get me started on the quality of even your first batches of polymer clay beads. I love when painters start making beads! They're always good from the start.
I will look forward to seeing your friends' posts. Thanks so much for saying yes to the hop!
Thank you Richelle!
DeleteI just looked it up, I had no idea! I definitely take it as a compliment, loved the Voynich Mnuscript!
It was actually a sketch for a necklace I have in my shop, sometimes I have to draw it out to figure out a composition...but it's really neat how the manuscript is what jumped in your mind... the writing on my sketchbook is just notes and kind of gibberish thoughts ;-)
I do tend to work in certain color palettes more than others...I like toned down colors and neutrals, I'm not a bit fan of bright, hence I'm still trying to figure out how to tone down poly clay without making it look muddy! I thank you so much for your compliments and I look forward to seeing more of your work, it is always a delight and an inspiration to see :)
Yes, definitely check out my friends' blogs, one of them is an excellent blogger as she is not only an artist, but a writer as well, my friend Angela and you probably have seen Robyn's work on Etsy, one of the best vintage assemblage artists out there!
Thanks for the invitation, it was fun and introspective.
wow the gal in your sketchbook has massive abs.... but wait i was here to say what a fantastic blog find! i love your experiments with polymer! aint it friggin' hard as hell? and yeah there's this feeling that polymer isnt as valuable as ceramic so even though its harder people totally undercharge! as do i.
ReplyDeleteanywho, i like that you said your stuff isnt different- it gives me the feeling that you're still finding your way and open and not judging it or forcing it to be anything, which is great. at the same time i agree with shipwreck. you rock.
Thanks Marina! *blush* I think the girl with the abs was based on a statue I sketched, and then in an attempt to sketch the anatomy I guess I went a little nuts with the tummy area ^_^;
DeleteI just recently bought a book on poly beads..."Polymer Clay Beads" by Grant Diffendaffer (funny name) and he even spins poly clay. Isn't it wild??
Thank you for the compliments, they mean a lot coming from a great artist like you and thanks for checking out my blog (it's still kinda new since I kinda quit writing last year)